CAT II/III minima compared to CAT I minima?

CAT II/III minima compared to CAT I minima?

• A. CAT II/III minima require higher than CAT I minima
• B. CAT II/III minima are always lower than CAT I minima
• C. CAT II/III minima equal CAT I approach minima
• D. CAT II/III minima are not used for any IFR approach

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is how instrument approach minima vary with category. In general, CAT II and CAT III are designed to allow landings in lower visibility and lower decision heights than CAT I, thanks to more advanced guidance and runway equipment. So, when CAT II/III minima are published for an approach, they are typically lower than CAT I minima (for example, CAT II/III can have DHs much lower than 200 ft and lower required visibility). The statement that CAT II/III minima are equal to CAT I minima is not universally true, because if CAT II/III minimums are published for a runway, they are usually lower. The only time you would effectively have the same minima as CAT I is when CAT II/III minima are not published for that approach or runway—so you fly CAT I minima by default. The other options don’t fit the usual relationships: CAT II/III are not inherently higher than CAT I, and they are definitely used for IFR approaches where published.

The concept being tested is how instrument approach minima vary with category. In general, CAT II and CAT III are designed to allow landings in lower visibility and lower decision heights than CAT I, thanks to more advanced guidance and runway equipment. So, when CAT II/III minima are published for an approach, they are typically lower than CAT I minima (for example, CAT II/III can have DHs much lower than 200 ft and lower required visibility).

The statement that CAT II/III minima are equal to CAT I minima is not universally true, because if CAT II/III minimums are published for a runway, they are usually lower. The only time you would effectively have the same minima as CAT I is when CAT II/III minima are not published for that approach or runway—so you fly CAT I minima by default.

The other options don’t fit the usual relationships: CAT II/III are not inherently higher than CAT I, and they are definitely used for IFR approaches where published.